REGION 2-1A 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
By Terry Futrell
Perhaps the best word to characterize the upcoming football season in Region 2-1A is “uncertainty”. Almost every school will be fielding a team with many new, unproven starters, leading to uncertainty in their performance on the field. The Covid-19 pandemic is also the source of much uncertainty because a single infection on a school’s football team can have dramatic results. But, while there is uncertainty, there is also stability that results from Region 2-1A having three of the top ten coaches in the state in terms of their length of service. Harriman Blue Devils coach Travis Tapp has held the position for 17 years, Keith Henry has coached the Coalfield Yellow Jackets for 12 years, and J.R. Voyles has led the Oakdale Eagles for 10 years – each has gone through the rebuilding process multiple times. We can expect each to maximize the performance of their new players.
Coalfield Yellow Jackets
Coming off an 8-4 2019 season, Keith Henry’s Yellow Jackets are faced with a major rebuilding task, losing eight offensive starters and eight defensive starters. These include two all-state performers, offensive lineman Dylan Stewart and linebacker Daniel Scharr. The Jackets also lost their top rusher, Peyton McKinney and top receiver, Isaac Vanwitzenburg. But lest anyone feel sorry for the Jackets, they will field a young team (only four seniors) that is loaded with talent. Senior Seth Lowe, the Jackets workhorse running back, brings experience and toughness to the team, and opponent defenses are faced with a huge challenge to stop the Jackets’ running attack. The Jackets are also blessed with multiple candidates to take the helm at quarterback. Cole Hines and Zach Armstrong both saw action at quarterback in 2019, each completing more than 55% of their passes. Landon Lowe returns from injury and is also expected to compete for the quarterback position. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Jackets is finding capable receivers, else we may see the run game dominate their offense in 2020.
Oakdale Eagles
Getting off to a shaky start in 2019, the Eagles recorded only one victory in the season. Losing only four key players, Oakdale has a good core group returning for Coach J.R. Voyles. The eagles lost two key defensive linemen, Brandon Basler and Hunter Howard, along with defensive backs Avrin Collins and Dakotah Miller. Miller was also a key receiver for the Eagles. The Eagles have ten returning players whose performance will have a big impact on the team’s success in 2020, including multipurpose athletes Timmy Holder and Eloy Vera. The 2019 Eagles had very few reserves, forcing almost all key players to play both offense and defense for the entire game. Perhaps the key to Eagle improvement in 2020 will be the level of backup support gained from new players, especially the incoming freshman class.
Sunbright Tigers
First-year coach Brian Hamby led the Sunbright Tigers to a 4-7 2019 record, and the Tigers have an excellent opportunity to improve on that record in 2020. Unlike several other schools who lost their quarterback to graduation, Sunbright’s John Wayne Freels returns for his senior season as a veteran quarterback. Junior Colton Nitzschke is also a capable quarterback, giving the Tigers both experience and depth at that position. The Tigers return seven offensive starters and six defensive starters, providing Coach Hamby a strong nucleus around which to continue to build the team. With running back Ethan Hammock also returning, the Tigers will have a strong backfield. Other key players returning include wide receivers Evan England and Houston Bryant. With other teams in the region having to rebuild their offense, look for the Tigers to be much more competitive in 2020.
Greenback Cherokees
Coming off a 12-3 2019 record that ended with a tough loss in the state title match, Greg Ryan’s Greenback Cherokees are hungry for another shot at the state title. The Cherokees lost all-state quarterback Braden Carnes and all-state wide receivers Holden Willis and Duke Stinnett to graduation. Greenback also lost all-state athlete Wyatt Rutgerson. Key returning players include two 2019 all-state selections, offensive lineman Tyler Jeffries and defensive lineman Derrell Bailey, Jr. Coach Ryan never seems to have a problem filling empty slots with highly capable personnel, so we can expect Greenback to once again be the team to beat in Region 2-1A. Key to Cherokee success will be replacing Carnes with a capable quarterback who is in sync with receivers Austin Burger and Brennan Duggan.
Harriman Blue Devils
After a disappointing 3-8 record in 2019, Coach Travis Tapp’s Harriman Blue Devils are faced with many challenges as they seek to improve in 2020. Losing both Bradley Frost and Kylan Love who shared quarterback responsibilities in 2019, Tapp must find a field general to lead the Blue Devil offense and work with receivers Cam Clark, Sebastian Yeager, and Nick Pelfrey. In total, Harriman lost five offensive starters and seven defensive starters. It won’t take long to assess the Blue Devils – they open the season facing rival Kingston at home on August 21.
Midway Green Wave
The Green Wave finished 2019 with a 5-5 record under new head coach Ron Treadway, but defeated only Oakdale and Sunbright in Region 2-1A competition. Although losing six starters from both the offense and defense, the Green Wave have experienced personnel at key positions in 2020. These include quarterback Emmett Hegland and wide receivers Declan Brewer, Seth Gordon, and Caleb Goodman. Critical losses for the Green Wave include running back Andrew Burton and wide receiver/linebacker Lucas Goldschmitt. If the defense comes through, look for Midway to move up in Region 2-1A rankings.
Oliver Springs Bobcats
Coach Larry Green’s Bobcats came on strong in 2019 with an overall 10-3 record, losing only two 1A games – both to Greenback. The Bobcats lose six starters off both offense and defense as they move into the 2020 season, presenting Coach Green with several challenges in his sixth year at Oliver Springs. Like several other teams, the Bobcats must find a new quarterback to replace Blake Crass. Another critical loss is all-state punter Fisher Ely. Returning linemen appear to be the strength of the Bobcats, which just might compensate for relative inexperience at other positions.
Predicted Top Three in 2020
In what is sure to be an unpredictable season, we will go out on a limb and predict the following teams to finish on top of Region 2-1A.
- Greenback
- Coalfield
- Midway